Self-contained underwater suit heater



' Mar Ch 1970 M. F. MEAD 3,501,056

SELF-CONTAINED UNDERWATER sum HEATER Filed May a, 1968 2o IISS "Q |o 46 O 4 x 50 Y 40 A Z I 73 I 4s\ 1; I i .E 2 I 52 l :4

\4g 40 lo |8 I United States Patent 3,501,056 SELF-CONTAINED UNDERWATER SUIT HEATER Mitchell F. Mead, 5527 Baltimore Drive, La Mesa, Calif. 92041 Filed May 6, 1968, Ser. No. 726,821 Int. Cl. B67d 5/60, 5/42; B65d 37/00 US. Cl. 222-131 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to diving apparatus and specifically to a self-contained underwater suit heater.

It is well known to heat diving suits electrically, which is practical only for a short duration unless power is supplied from the surface, with consequent limitation on mobility of the diver. Also the possibility of short circuiting makes the technique somewhat dangerous. Chemical heating has also been proposed, but this is usually continuous once initiated and not readily controllable. Since mobility is of prime importance in the type of diving performed in a wet suit with aqualung equipment, it is necessary for any added apparatus to be compact and easily carried.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The suit heater described herein utilizes a compact insulated container which is easily attached to the diver or to the air tanks or harness of the breathing apparatus. A flexible hose leads from the container, through a small hand pump to an inlet in the wet suit. Prior to diving the container is filled with hot water, which can be pumped into the wet suit as needed. A follower sliding in the container is exposed on one side to the surrounding water, so that ambient pressure is maintained on the hot water and proper pump operation is ensured at any depth. The follower has a removable filler plug and the container incorporates stops on which the follower can be engaged at either end of its travel, to facilitate insertion or removal of the plug.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a cut-away side elevation view of the complete assembl FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a cutaway view, similar to a portion of FIGURE 1, showing an alternative container structure.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the configuration shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the container 10 is a double walled structure comprising an inner cylinder 12 and an outer cylinder 14, separated at the lower end by a spacer ring 16 to leave an annular air space, 18 between the cylinders. The cylinders are preferably of plastic material for thermal insulation and resistance to water. At the upper end a spacer ring 20 is secured to inner cylinder 12, but is slidable in outer cylinder 14 to allow for differential expansion and contraction of the two cylinders. Water is kept out of air space 18 by an annular seal 22, of flexible material such as rubber or plastic, bonded between the inner and outer cylinders. The lower end is closed by a recessed plug 24 fitting tightly into inner cylinder 12 and sealed to the ends of the cylinders, with an insulated cap 26 secured over the recessed plug to enclose an insulating air chamber 28, cap 26 being held by a retaining ring 30 suitably bonded in place.

Fixed in the lower end of container 10 is a stop pin 32 which protrudes a short distance into the interior of inner cylinder 12 adjacent plug 24. At the upper end of the container is a stop pin 34 which projects over the opening of inner cylinder 12, said stop pin having a threaded portion 36 which screws into the outer cylinder 14, a head 38 on the threaded portion facilitating removal of the stop pin.

Slidably mounted in inner cylinder 12 is a piston-like follower 40 having an O-ring 42 for a seal against the cylinder wall. In the center of follower 40 is a threaded filler plug 44, with a flange 46 which seats firmly against the top surface of the follower and having a raised, noncircular boss 48 for ease of removal. In the upper edge of follower 40 is a notch 50 to receive stop pin 34 and hold the follower against rotation at the upper end of its travel. The lower edge of follower 40 has a similar notch 52 to fit over stop pin 32 at the lower end of the cylinder. Filler plug 44 is hollow and has an insert of insulative material 54 in the lower end, leaving an air space 56 in the boss 48.

At the lower end of container 10 is an outlet fitting 58 communicating with the interior of inner cylinder 12 and having an external tubular connector 60. Secured on connector 60 is a flexible hose 62 leading to a pump 64 of the squeeze bulb type, which has been found most convenient in use. This type of pump is well known and has one way valves 66 and 68, usuallly simple ball valves, at opposite ends to provide the pumping action when the bulb is squeezed and released. A further length of hose 70 connects the outlet side of pump 64 to an inlet fitting 72, which is secured in any suitable manner to a wet suit,

indicated fragmentarily at 74. The inlet fitting 72 is preferably installed in the abdominal portion of the wet suit, since this is the area where cold is usually felt more noticeably and is a generally central point for distribution of the hot Water. It will be obvious that multiple inlets could be used if required. To preserve the heat of the water as much as possible the hoses 62 and 70 are encased in insulated jackets 76 and a further jacket 78 is fitted over pump 64. One suitable material having the necessary flexibility, as well as thermal insulating qualities, is nylon fabric coated Neoprene, which is commercially available. This is basically a foam material with closed cells and does not become permeated with water. However, other materials may be equally suitable.

An alternative construction for the container is shown in FIGURE 3. The container 80 has an inner cylinder 82, similar to cylinder 12, but the outer cylinder 84 is a thick layer of insulative material secured on the inner cylinder rather than spaced therefrom. At the lower end of container 80 is the same closure arrangement of a recessed plug 24, cap 26 and retaining ring 30 as described above, and the same follower 40 is used. The lower stop pin 32 is secured in inner cylinder 82, as is the outlet fitting 58 with its external connector 60. At the upper end the inner cylinder 82 has an external reinforcing ring 86, which provides support for e threaded portion 3 6 of the removable .upper stop.

Either form of the container can be attachedto e diver in various ways, one suitable method being strap the container to the compressed air tank or supporting harness. The flexible hose will then exnd around one side of the diver to the wet suit inputting the pump 64 convenient to the divers side ar the waist. Before diving the follower 40 is pulled the top of the container and the notch 50 engaged t the upper stop pin 34 to prevent rotation. Filler mg 44 can then be unscrewed and the container filled th hot water.

During submersion, whenever the diver feels discomrt due to the cold water, a few squeezes of pump will transfer some of the hot water to the interior the wet suit, the amount being determined by the vet to suit particular conditions. As hot water is withawn from the container the follower 40 will be pulled to the inner cylinder, assisted by pressure of the surunding water entering the open end 88 of the conlner, which thus maintains ambient pressure on the t Water. This reduces the demand on pump 64 and sures a ready flow of hot water at any depth. A itable water resistant lubricant, such as petroleum 1y, may be used to ensure smooth motion of the llower. The hot water is used only as needed and, .der most conditions, a container roughly equal in :e to a compressed air tank, will supply hot water r the normal operating period of the air supply. There 11, of course, be variations in tank sizes, air pressures, tter temperature and other related factors, but in neral the heating system is compatible in performance th conventional breathing apparatus.

To refill the container after use, the follower 40 pushed to the bottom to engage notch 52 on stop pin 1, as indicated in broken line in FIGURE 1. With the [lower held against rotation the filler plug 44 can be screwed and removed. It is then possible to insert .gers into the filler plug opening, to grip and pull a follower to the upper end of the container ready r filling. For cleaning and servicing the upper stop 1 34 can be removed, allowing the follower 40 to taken completely out of the container.

The heating system is compact, completely self-conned, does not impede the diver and does not interfere th the breathing apparatus. The system is simple to e and very little maintenance is required.

It is understood that minor variation from the form the invention disclosed herein may be made without parture from the spirit and scope of the invention, d that the specification and drawings are to be conlered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim: 1. A self-contained heating system adapted to be carried by a diver and connected to a divers Wet suit, the system comprising:

a substantially cylindrical,- thermally insulated hot water container having a closed end and an open end;

a piston-like follower slidably mounted in 'said container, said follower having a removable filler plug therein;

an outlet adjacent the closed end of said container;

an inlet fitting for connection to a wet suit;

and a one-way pump, connected between said outlet and inlet to pump hot water from said container to the wet suit. I 2. The structure of'claim 1, wherein said container has an inwardly protruding stop pin adjacent said closed end, said follower having a notch for engagement on said stop pin to hold the follower against rotation. 3. The structure of claim 2, wherein said container has a second inwardly protruding stop pin adjacent said open end, said follower having a notch for engagement on said second stop pin.

4. Thestructure of claim 3, wherein said second stop pin is removable.

5. The structure of claim 1 and including thermally insulated flexible hoses connecting said pump to said outlet and inlet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1909 Morgan 220207 X 2/1960 McConnohie 222207 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner H. S. LANE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 222207, 386 

